Protector: A Young Adult / New Adult Fantasy Novel

by Joanne Wadsworth

  “Your father? Does she ever speak of the man who is your sire?”

  “No, and I don’t force it. There’s too much pain there for her. I only know vague things, like he was eighteen as she was, and that he left her right after my birth.”

  Davio absently stroked along the inside of my wrist. “Our people don’t have this aging disability your people have, but I can’t deny that you do have a number of people amongst your population who appear far younger than their years would be. We must seek your unknown father’s whereabouts. That is where I’m sure we’ll find your lost Peacian heritage.”

  “And what of Dralion? Could he be from your enemy’s country? You don’t know exactly where he’s from any more than I do.” Memories flickered. The man who’d attacked me had said he’d been a warrior, had arrogantly stated that was so. Warriors guarded Dralion, while protectors guarded Peacio. Both nations named their elite fighting forces in that distinct way. Belle had told me as such during the time she’d enlightened me to all things Magio.

  “It’s doubtful your father comes from our enemy’s land. We allow our fellow Peacians to travel wherever they wish, but in Dralion, circumstances are different. Donaldo Wincrest locks his people down as my grandfather, Carlisio, does not. It is near impossible for Wincrest’s people to travel here, unless they’re amongst their king’s elite fighting force of warriors.”

  “How does Wincrest lock all but his warriors down?” Belle hadn’t covered this.

  “Dralion has an energy field which shields their country. It’s an energy dome we can’t penetrate, yet a dome which has an entry and exit point where only their most highly skilled and trained warriors can come and go from. We can’t breach this point since we don’t know where it is, or what its physical attributes are for teleporting.”

  I tried to sift through his mind to understand his reasoning and his obvious hatred of all things Dralion, but the block he had put in place remained immoveable. I resettled my mind into that soft spot and frowned. “I don’t like the way you’re blocking me.”

  “It’s best this way. All our people can block if they so desire.” He gave a little shake of his head. “But you’re not to go sneaking about within others’ mind when you’re not wanted there.”

  “I had no intention of doing so. Most people channel their thoughts to me, so no sneaking involved, and it’s only you I can actually merge my mind with.” I also had no intention of trying to merge my mind with anyone else’s. Davio was the only one I wanted to connect with in such a private way, and I’d say due to this slightly infuriating soul bond. I let out a long breath and considered the man who had accosted me. He’d definitely said he was a warrior. He’d said the Peacio protectors were his—no, our—natural born enemy. Then he’d demanded I stay away from them.

  I cringed, recalling the warrior’s last words. “We’ll have to pick this up another time. Carlisio’s been forewarned.”

  The front door clicked shut. Mum was here.

  I pressed a hand to Davio’s chest and pushed him away. “You have to go. Please. I have to help my mother unpack the groceries, and you need to take your people with you. She’ll have a heart attack if she sees so many dressed the way you all are.”

  His expression darkened, his gaze rising over my head to connect with Belle’s as she came off the couch and joined us. “Belle, you and Silvie will stay and not leave my mate’s side. Contact me on our direct link if you need me to return. I will not be long.”

  She voiced a quick, “Yes.”

  Then he turned to me. “I’ll be fifteen minutes. I have plenty of Earth clothing since I enjoy the fabrics and styles your people wear. I will return to the castle to collect a bag.” He bent forward and lightly kissed my forehead. “Don’t find trouble while I’m gone. That’s an order.”

  “Hold on.” I grabbed his arm, since he could leave in the blink of an eye and clearly intended to. “You’re definitely coming back, right?”

  His lips lifted. “I will ensure your safety first before I return to my duties. I have Zac and Viv to aid me, and Belle will now remain for as long as she’s required.” He glanced at Zac and Viv. “You both need to do a little shopping to blend in with the locals. We’ll regroup at Belle’s residence across the street in an hour since Carlisio hasn’t disposed of it yet. That is where we’ll reside until the existing threat to my mate is removed.”

  Hand on my arm, Belle pulled me clear of the others. “Davio, I take it Faith is to come with us. There are six bedrooms.”

  I frowned. What was Belle implying?

  “She stays with us.” He glanced at Silvie. “You too may stay with us if you wish. I’ve seen how greatly you care for your friend. I welcome any aid you might offer.”

  I gasped. “Just a second. You can’t think to completely reorganize my life. I have a perfectly secure home right here, thank you.”

  “No.” Davio’s tone rang with fierce adamancy. “In this decision, you have no choice. When it comes to your safety—my orders take precedence. You will pack a bag and stay at Belle’s where the rest of us will be close enough to protect you.” To Belle, he ordered, “Stay at her side. Until we remove the threat, a protector will watch over her at every moment.”

  I opened my mouth to strenuously object, only Davio wavered into thin air and disappeared. I kicked the space where he’d been. “Damn, that’s annoying.”

  Zac and Viv chuckled and followed directly in his wake.

  “Annoying, annoying, annoying,” I blustered.

  “Come on. I’m not missing any of this. I’ll stay with you.” Silvie jumped to my side and snagged my other arm—the one Belle wasn’t fiercely gripping. “We have groceries to unpack.”

  I scowled at one then the other. “I can walk to the kitchen by myself.”

  Belle’s grip tightened. “Our protectors do not question orders given by our prince, and neither should you.”

  I tried to jerk my arm free. “What I’m questioning is this sudden imprisonment.” Next time I’d make absolutely certain Davio didn’t poof away without more time on my side to argue my point. I groaned. Clearly I was going to Belle’s place whether I wanted to or not. Swiftly, I twisted free of Belle and shot off into the kitchen.

  The large and homey space was my mother’s favorite room. The kitchen cabinets were built in, the pale blue doors trimmed with pine to match the varnished wooden floor, and an ultra-wide window ran the entire length of the kitchen, right over the stainless steel bench. Outside, the last of the sun’s rays beamed in over top of the tall boundary fence between us and our neighbors. The stunning light pinged off the steel and sent a prism of sparkly pinks, golds, and blues bouncing around the room.

  I skidded to a stop, and Belle bumped into my back as she took Davio’s protection orders to the very exact point. “Oomph.” I caught myself, ignored Belle and smiled at Mum. “Hey, how was work?”

  “Endless today.” Mum popped out from inside the pantry, her gaze alighting on Belle and Silvie either side of me. “Oh, hello girls. I didn’t realize you’d all be here. I thought you were leaving Te Puke, Belle?”

  “No, she decided she loves the place.” I opened the bags on the counter, removed several packages and passed them across to Mum. “In fact Belle’s invited me to stay at her place. Is that all right?”

  Mum stacked the goods on the top shelf, half-turned and nodded over her shoulder. “You can sleepover at Belle’s place whenever you like. That’s never a problem.”

  “Actually, Kate.” Belle breezed into the gap between Mum and me. “I’m hoping to have Faith come over for a few days, not just a single night sleepover. Silvie’s coming too, so it’ll be just us girls until I have other houseguests arriving. I’d appreciate the female company.”

  Well, whoever knew Belle could—

  Silvie stepped forward, clearing her throat. “My mother knows Belle’s houseguests.” She scratched her ear. “Ah, Davio Loveria is one of them, and he’s very respectable. So are Viv and Zac.”


  Frowning, I crossed my arms. Okay, was there a conspiracy here? Why would Silvie lie so blatantly? There was no way Seriah Carver knew Davio and his protectors.

  Silvie snuck closer, and whispered in my ear. “Sorry, you got hit on the head, and I want those protectors around.”

  I squished up my mouth, taking care as I eased past a crowding Belle to pass Mum a bag of vegetables. “Actually, there was talk that Davio and the others may turn up today, but regardless, Silvie and I know the rules around other men. We’ll be good.” There, that was better, less of a lie.

  Mum opened the refrigerator door and stacked the carrots into the lower cooler. “You know the rules, do you?” Standing back with her gaze intent, she continued, “Just run them by me again, hmm.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Very funny.”

  Mum tried to hide her smile, but I caught it all the same. “Well, you are eighteen and it’s not like I haven’t taught you the rules of being responsible.”

  “That’s right.” I grinned and snatched an apple, rubbed it against the arm of my shirtsleeve. “I’ll just go and pack a bag then.” I bit down as I walked out of the kitchen. “Don’t worry about dinner for me.”

  Belle and Silvie joined me in my bedroom as I threw a couple pairs of blue jeans, some comfy t-shirts and my all-time favorite violet-checked shirt into a bag. Belle tossed in two pairs of shoes, and Silvie nabbed my pajamas.

  Next came toiletries.

  And Belle standing sentry in the doorway of my white-tiled bathroom. Talk about Protection City.

  I threw my hands up. “Okay, this is just ridiculous, Belle. It’s not like I’m going to be accosted in my own home. Take a step back.” I scooped up my toothbrush and toothpaste.

  She tapped her head. “Yeah, okay, but only because Davio’s on his way.”

  I checked the time on my watch.

  “Faith.” A distinct male voice rang out from my bedroom.

  “Coming.” I dropped the toiletries in my overnighter and slung my bag over my shoulder, then stopped dead in the bathroom doorway at the renewed sight of him in the center of my room. Wow. Talk about a man who could halt traffic with just how good he looked. His blue jeans fit him to perfection, rounding a tight butt I wanted to ogle. His tan t-shirt hugged his broad chest.

  Somehow I remembered to breathe. Then I remembered what I should be thinking. Sternly, I crossed my arms. “You can’t come and go from my bedroom as you please. We have a front door, and I insist on you using it.” Yeah, none of this poofing in and out stuff.

  He studied me, his brows slanting down. “I don’t care for your antagonistic behavior, so merge your mind with mine now. It’s as necessary for you as it is for me.”

  He drew closer, firing my blood.

  I merged, sinking into my soft spot in his mind, and unable to help myself, tried to catch his current thoughts. I hit the jackpot as he remained unblocked. Focusing, I saw that away from me his mind had replayed what had happened—my attack. He wondered why now and could the attack be related to him? He was certain the small and closely tied group who knew about me would never tell another of our bond. Included were his parents, Genevy and Everio, his grandfather and just moments ago, he’d informed his cousin and right-hand man he’d decided not to forego our bond.

  My heart hitched. It hurt he’d told so many people when I clearly couldn’t tell a soul, not even my own mother.

  Stepping up to me, he caught my hand. “Clearly you’re reading my thoughts. What concerns you most about them?”

  With the slow lifting of my chin, I answered, “A million things.”

  Not to mention the fact that the one who’d attacked me was a warrior and Davio’s enemy, something I needed to tell him now we had more time. Footsteps clacked down the passageway and I swung my gaze to the door. Oh no. Mum was coming.

  A whoosh of air, and my hair blew into my face as Davio dived past me and disappeared into my bathroom.

  Flinging strands of blond from my gaping mouth, I smiled at Mum as she poked her head in. “Faith, I’m going to take a bath and relax.” She glanced at Belle and Silvie who smiled ever so sweetly just as I was. “I’ll see you all later.”

  I lifted a hand. “Yep. Later. Have a nice soak.”

  “I will.” She closed the door.

  Belle slid in front of it and firmly pressed her back to the polished wood. “Okay, that was too close. We should all get out of here. I’ll go with Silvie and help her collect some belongings. You all right, Faith?”

  “I’m good.” I was since Davio had reappeared from the bathroom and eased in behind me, his hands gently cupping my waist.

  “Thanks, Belle.” His deep voice rumbled near my ear, his close touch soothing me as it did when we touched skin-to-skin. “I’ll meet you across the road. I’ll bring Faith.”

  “You will?”

  “Yes, I will. Hold on.” His fingers pressed in firmer and we disappeared within the blink of an eye, then reappeared right inside Belle’s open and airy living room, and only a mere moment later.

  Such a sprawling, six-bedroom home. The living room was long and angular with soft couches pressed to three of the four walls, which gave the space an even wider appeal. Two stunning pieces of framed artwork hung on the walls, one of a sparkling emerald sea with a striking white lighthouse jutting out over a stony point. The other showcased a rustic cottage teetering on the edge of a magnificent rock cliff-face, with massive white-capped breakers rolling in and slapping hard against the rock. Both pieces of art displayed the force of nature battling against life, and my interest had always been taken by them. “Are those images from Peacio?” I swayed a little as I found my feet.

  Davio lent me a steadying hand. “Yes, they are. The second picture is of Belle’s family home on the cliffs of Barndon. The Benners have held that piece of land for several generations.”

  “Really?” My curiosity was piqued. “Tell me about it.”

  “Barndon is a day’s ride from Loveria Castle, although Belle moved away from her parents and younger siblings two years ago. She has a place in the village, some twenty minutes by horse from the castle, as well as a room in the castle for when needed. We prefer our protectors to remain close.”

  “Did you say two years?” That surprised me. “I take it Belle isn’t eighteen?” I’d presumed she was, except of course as I’d recently learnt, no one physically aged. Heck, she could be a hundred for all I knew.

  “She’s twenty, although Zac and Viv are eighteen just as I am. Let’s not talk about them though. Before your mother’s untimely arrival, I wished to discuss any recollections you might have had of your attack. Your safety must be secured, so whatever you might remember would be great appreciated.”

  “Hmm, right.” I ambled over to one of the forest green couches, sighed and sank down. Pulling my knees to my chest, I tucked myself into a smaller bundle as Davio dropped in beside me and caught my hand.

  Idly, he traced my fingers with his. “You have such soft skin.”

  I would have smiled, but I couldn’t. My mind was on the warrior.

  “What worries you?” He ran his fingers over my brow, smoothing out the lines.

  Resting my head on his shoulder, I eased into his comforting touch. “There’s certain haziness, yet I do recall what he said now I’ve had time to recover and my mind has cleared.” I drew in a deep breath, eased away a touch and looked into his eyes. It was time he knew what I knew. “And by he, I mean a warrior. A warrior who seemed aware of you, and who definitely knew you’d been with me. He said the protectors were our enemy.”

  “I see.” Davio heaved to his feet and paced across to the window overlooking the road front. After a moment of staring out the window, he faced me again and raked one hand deep into his thick golden-brown hair. “Battles are often fought between Wincrest’s elite and ours, and that will never change. But it does make sense that the earlier attack on you is because of me.” He inhaled sharply. “Although, I wasn’t expecting any warrior attack
to be so far from my home shores.”

  “And now?” I hoisted to my feet.

  “It’s likely tactical. Dralion’s warriors are smart and calculating. Hence his use of including both him and you as my enemy.”

  I shifted from foot to foot.

  A low growl rumbled from him as he watched me. “Or that better be the case, because you are my mate and I won’t tolerate any trickery between us.”

  “There’s no deceit. You’re not my enemy, and I’ve never met that warrior before, although you do need to consider the gene pool for my unknown father is now much wider than you first thought. You believe me descended from Peacio, but clearly a warrior from Dralion could be another possibility.”

  “It could, but it is unlikely.” He sounded so certain.

  The loud throttle of Silvie’s car roared outside and a flash of white showed through the partially turned cream blinds across the ranch slider.

  I stepped up to him, for they would soon be inside. “There’s more. The warrior threatened he would pick up our disrupted meeting at another time. I’ve no doubt he’ll return.”

  Davio stiffened, his gaze on me so intent that I retreated a hasty step. “Is there anything else you’ve conveniently forgotten to tell me?”

  “Hey, what else did you expect me to do Mr. Prince I’m-never-returning Davio? Last time I saw you, you were adamantly giving me up. Call me crazy,” I blustered on, “but the first thought in my fuzzy head after being struck down by a massive man throwing about an equally colossal baton, was not to blurt out all my rising problems. I happened to need you at that point in time.”

  Anger surged through me, nothing halting my driven spiel. “As I still seem to do now for some mind-boggling reason.” Go figure.

  Now, after all that lecturing, he simply cocked one arrogant brow. “As I need you.” Then he was there, pulling me against him. “Just so we’re both clear, nothing changes between us because of this attack. To that end, I’ll have Zac and Viv join you at school for further protection. Belle will also be resuming classes as if she’d never left. This warrior who is coming will not take what is mine. Not all is yet known about him, and until it is, I will do my duty as your mate to protect you from our enemy.”